Yes. Some people feel strongly that the role of invite should be restricted to that of verb, but the English language changes and grows according to its own peculiar whims, and not those of people who write angry letters to dictionaries. The process whereby a word changes its part of speech is called functional shift, and there are tens of thousands of words which have done this. Some of them just bother people more than others, and invite (along with gift and friend, which have changed in the opposite direction) is one that attracts considerable opprobrium.
Verb I visited their house once, but they've never invited me back. I'm planning to invite them for the weekend. Aren't you going to invite me in for a coffee? The event is limited to invited guests. Employees are invited to apply for the new position. The college invited her to speak at the graduation ceremony. The company invites suggestions from customers. Noun Did you send out the invites to the party? See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Three area high school student teams invite the community to a free environmental ethics seminar from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday at the J. Craig Venter Institute, 4120 Capricorn Lane, La Jolla. Laura Groch, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Sep. 2022 But to defend her too keenly, or to demonstrate her allyship, would also be to invite schoolroom suspicion. Guy Lodge, Variety, 9 Sep. 2022 At watering holes like the southwest coast’s John Moore Bar, Kermitts, and R.A. Mapp Bar, colorful awnings invite visitors to taste Mount Gay rum and watch residents in a lively game of dominoes. Kristin Braswell, Vogue, 17 Aug. 2022 Struggles with authority could invite issues for you at this time.Chicago Tribune, 30 July 2022 Legion members invite visitors to stop at the Post’s table at Summerfest, or to visit the Post, 19311 Lorain Road, Fairview Park, any Tuesday evening. Carol Kovach, cleveland, 26 July 2022 The residents graciously invite visitors to take a look at the exterior of the storybook castles. Michelle Matthews | Mmatthews@al.com, al, 29 June 2022 For one thing, the Met didn’t invite her to the event — and for another, the big accounts that amplified it often didn’t link back to her. Moises Mendez Ii, Rolling Stone, 25 June 2022 The Costa Rica beach resorts ahead invite visitors to experience the true meaning of pura vida. Lindsay Cohn, Travel + Leisure, 13 June 2022
Noun
This isn't the first time Giancola has declined the invite to return to the screen. Kelly Wynne, Peoplemag, 15 Sep. 2022 Naturally, an event stacked with some of pop’s finest was bound to get leaked — the invite made the rounds on TikTok. André-naquian Wheeler, Vogue, 15 Sep. 2022 Rock, who previously hosted the Oscars in 2005 and 2016, revealed the invite during a standup show in Phoenix on Sunday, according to The Arizona Republic. Marianne Garvey, CNN, 30 Aug. 2022 The invite features the Apple logo made up of what appear to be stars in a dark background likely representing space. Jordan Mendoza, USA TODAY, 24 Aug. 2022 Then, the family member invite is sent over Snapchat as a direct message with a link to sign up.WIRED, 22 Aug. 2022 The cost to attend is $5,000 per couple, according to the invitation, and the event begins at 5:30 p.m. Details about the location of the fundraiser were not included on the invite. Brittany Bowker, BostonGlobe.com, 9 Aug. 2022 Boston expressed hurt, suggesting ESPN only changed its mind on the invite after concerns about her invitation went viral on social media.Fox News, 20 July 2022 The image appears to be the invite that members of the press will likely receive in the days ahead. Jacob Siegal, BGR, 18 July 2022 See More
Word History
Etymology
Verb
Middle French or Latin; Middle French inviter, from Latin invitare